The Sikhs in Britain are now enjoying most rewards of their work ethic
compared to any other religious group.

Eight out of 10 Sikhs are likely to own a house, considered
the basic symbol of prosperity. Their success is a tribute to the hard
work of the first generation and then the ever-growing economic success
and educational achievement of subsequent generations.

The figure of 82 per cent home ownership among Sikhs compares
to 70 per cent (seven out of 10) homeowners among the Christian majority.
Sikhs are also, it has been found, as likely as Christians to hold a
university degree.

A quarter of Hindus have a degree, while 16 per cent of
Christians and Sikhs are educated to that level. The first ever breakdown
of religious groups by the Government shows that Britain has proved
most receptive to ambitions of migrants.

Hindus and Jews too are ahead of Christians in terms of
home ownership. While 74 per cent Hindus own homes, 77 per cent of Jews
are home owners, second only to Sikhs who are at top of the table with
82 per cent having their own homes.

Hindu men are second only to Jews among major religious
groups as likely to hold managerial posts or be top professionals. Some
45 per cent of management roles, and one in 20 Hindu men is a doctor,
10 times the percentage of the Christian majority.

The figures also show high levels of deprivation among
Muslim communities. This has raised concern that some are increasingly
becoming economically and culturally isolated. Almost a third of Muslims
have no qualifications, the highest proportion of any other religious
groups. Worse 14 per cent are unemployed and health problems are also
greater. Two-thirds of Muslim women have no jobs, compared to more than
a third in any other religious group.

These figures compiled by the Office of National Statistics
from the 2001 Census were published on Monday in a document called Focus
on Religion. Over 41 million said they were Christians. Muslims were
the next largest group with a population of 1.6 million, followed by
Hindus (558,000), Sikhs (336,000), Jews (267,000) and Buddhists, numbering
150,000.

Muslims have the largest households, 3.6 persons in each
home on an average, and are also the most likely to suffer over-crowding.